Question

What was President Jefferson's original goal when he ended up acquiring the entire Louisiana Territory?

a) He wanted to own the Mississippi River.
b) He wanted control over New Orleans.
c) He wanted to kick Spain out of North America.
d) He wanted control over the city of St. Louis.

Answer 1

Thomas Jefferson's original objective was to gain control over New Orleans to secure a crucial trade route through the Mississippi River. The eventual Louisiana Purchase, however, significantly exceeded the initial goal, doubling the size of the United States and realizing Jefferson's vision of an agrarian republic.

Step-by-step explanation:

President Thomas Jefferson's original goal when he acquired the Louisiana Territory was b) he wanted control over New Orleans. The Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans were crucial to American agricultural commerce, as they would allow farmers to send their produce down to New Orleans, and from there to European traders. The opportunity to purchase the territory presented itself when Napoleon, due to the failure in Haiti and the looming war with Britain, decided to sell the vast territory which the United States could scarcely refuse — doubling its size for $15 million. This purchase fulfilled Jefferson's vision of the United States as an agrarian republic and marked a significant expansion of its geographic boundaries — laying the groundwork for future westward expansion.